Irresponsible Crew Behaviour

tome

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Our lately deceased crewmate John was scattered in the Solent, close to the Needles just as he wanted. We dropped the sails, stopped the engine and lay ahull for the brief ceremony

6 white roses followed his ashes. Then there was a whoosh followed by two bangs as somebody let off a small firework to mark the occasion. A passing boat asked if we were ok, yep just fine we said

Next thing someone calls up Solent Coastguard to report the sighting of 2 flares close to the Needles. Blimey, I thought, that must be us so changed to ch67. Tried calling them up but the airways were chocker with various reports and couldn't get a word in

Eventually heard someone tell SCG that it was only a firework fired from a 30ft blue hulled boat named Avviva

Nuff said, I thought...
 

Lakesailor

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I'm not at all religious, or particularly spritual, but it seems a nice idea to me. My father's ashes were scattered at Port Appin in the sea as he loved the area.

Too many people are telling us what to do and what not to do these days.

It's comforting to know that lots of people were looking out. I wonder, perhaps I would have told the CG about the ceremony, with a position, before the event.
 

powerskipper

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it caused a lovely bit of excitement on the water and kept the coast guard talking for a while, /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

but look at it this way , if someone had been in trouble you know it would have been reported. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

oldharry

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[ QUOTE ]
it caused a lovely bit of excitement on the water and kept the coast guard talking for a while, /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

but look at it this way , if someone had been in trouble you know it would have been reported. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but, when he tried to call in to say he was OK he couldnt get through, so many people were busy reporting/discussing etc.

Now just suppose someone HAD got in to trouble while all that was happening? Would anyone have heard?

Seems perhaps in a busy place like the Solent a flare is quicker than VHF if you really need help fast.

Solent CG do ask you to inform them before rather than after if you plan to let fireworks off on or near the water.
 

tome

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Glad we did it yesterday! Stuck in Yarmouth having turned back en route to Chichester. It's blowing dogs off leads here...

Must say that the HM staff aren't being very helpful as skippers struggle to control their boats, telling them they can't berth on the pontoon etc. Few gel coat repairs required
 

claymore

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HM staff have for long been in cahoots with gel-coat repairers. Its a win-win situation and brings hard cash into the welcoming pockets of many.
Hoos yer mammy an wull her kettle be oan in July?
 

Thaumaturge

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This post reminded me of a true tale, which I think is worth sharing with the community.

In 1982 I was serving in Her Majesty's submarine Otter, based at Fort Blockhouse, and we were about to depart on a 'steely eyed' patrol to northern waters to watch some other Navy's antics.

Just prior to leaving the wall the squadron operations officer summoned our CO for a final briefing, where he informed the old man that a recently departed admiral (a well known ex-submariner - name witheld for reasons which will become obvious) had expressed a last wish for his ashes to be scattered at sea by an operational boat from our squadron, and that we were to conduct this task, in the Solent, on our way out.

We duly embarked some close members of the admiral's family and the squadron Godbotherer, and sailed in company with an MFV to the allocated area near Horse Sand Fort. The burial party were to be transferred to the MFV on completion and then we could head off to play with the Russians. Ooops! Another navy is what I meant!

Now, on this particular day it was blowing a hooligan, and the bridge of an 'O' class submarine is cramped and uncomfortable to say the least! But, once on station, we managed to get all the relatives and the Padre, along with the officer of the watch up top where they could conduct the ceremony. They got soaked but were undaunted.

Meanwhile, below, the captain thought it would be a good idea if we could use this opportunity to get a few amps into the batteries, so decided he would run the generators.

Up on the bridge the service had just reached the point where the sky pilot says; "....we commit the remains of ***** ***** to the deep", simultaneously tipping the ashes over the side, into the teeth of the gale. At that very moment, the diesel generators roared into life and took an almighty breath in via the snort (snorkel) system and 'swallowed' the ashes of our dear departed friend!

He must have eventually found his way into the sea, but not until he had passed through two 16 cylinder diesel engines!

What a way to go!!!!! <span style="color:blue"> </span>
 

pelicanpete

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In a similar vein, my friend, an ex WW2 pilot of 85, tells of the time his friend passed away some 45 years ago. They were both keen aviators flying Piper Cubs during the post-war years. His friend was cremated and according to his wishes, his ashes were taken aloft to be 'scattered' from 2000 feet from said Piper Cub. (The 'Cub is a basic airplane with a fuselage of exposed tubes covered by canvas). The moment came for my friend to open the door, flip the lid of the urn and scatter the ashes to the wind, which he did, watched by the widow from the co-pilot's seat. Only problem was, the slipstream blew all the ashes back into the 'plane, distributing them over his flying suit and throughout the interior of the aircraft's many nooks and crannies. My friend thought that it was his old friend's way of saying that he didn't want to stop flying. Those ashes remained lodged inside the aircraft's fuselage until he sold the Piper many years later! He didn't tell the new owner so, presumably, he is still flying!
 
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Skyva_2

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It's told that the same happened at the scattering of the ashes in the Solent of the late Arthur Robb, great yacht designer. The boat concerned was one of his designs, later moored at Swanwick.

Most of the remains duly landed back in the cockpit; ever after, anyone who sweeps the cockit floor is required to say "Sorry, Arthur" as the dustpan is emptied over the rail.
 

Sailfree

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FYI

My Father-in -Law will be cremated next Wednesday (tomorrow). I was initially asked to spread his ashes at sea but the family have subsequently found out that as a Ex RN petty officer we can get the RN to do it. Apparently they allow 6 family members on board and do a "joint" scattering with other families. Next one sheduled for July.

As an aside he died of lung cancer from asbestos. Both he and a friend (fellow RN person) worked in the engine room involved in asbestos lagging and both have lung cancer (the friend is still alive). The RN claim crown immunity from any liability so no compensation or help during his suffering only state pension etc.

I am sure the government will reverse this decision with much publicity when there are only 2 people left alive that could receive any compensation.
 

tome

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Amazing to think that so many people have apparently never seen a real flare going off - this thing went no higher than 50 ft, was white and had a duration of less than a second

Did you not listen to SCG? They established within minutes that it was a firework

But yes, we would have reported it as a firework once we heard the reports had someone else not already done so. As for reporting it beforehand, not sure they would co-operate
 
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